The new Nursery Production Specialist Kristopher Criscione is dedicated to shaping his research and Extension program to address the needs of Virginia’s nursery growers.

Virginia’s nursery industry is growing – and Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center is working to support its continued success. 

The 2024 Horticultural Industry Metrics report steady growth of the nursery industry, contributing significantly to the state's agricultural economy with total sales surpassing previous years. 

Container-grown plants, nursery stock, and propagative materials remain key revenue drivers. The report also notes increased investments in automation and irrigation efficiency to address labor shortages and sustainability concerns.

That’s great news to Assistant Professor Kristopher Criscione, the new nursery production specialist at Virginia Tech’s Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center (AREC). Since he arrived at the AREC in January, he has focused on meeting with industry leaders and developing research and outreach to support their needs.

“I’m here to help them solve problems,” he said. “If there’s a particular challenge they’re facing, I want to shift my research to address it.” 

Criscione advocates for simple yet sustainable practices such as cyclical irrigation, top-dressing fertilizer, micro-irrigation, and effective growing media applications.

  • Cyclical irrigation: Applying water in smaller, timed allotments throughout the day to conserve water and reduce fertilizer runoff.

  • Top-dressing fertilizer: Applying fertilizer on the soil surface instead of mixing it in, which can provide nutrients to plants while reducing runoff and potential environmental impact.

  • Micro-irrigation: Delivering water directly to the root zone of plants in small amounts, which is more efficient than traditional methods and helps reduce water waste.

  • Effective growing media applications: Using the right type of soil or substrate for planting, which can enhance plant growth and health. 

Criscione is also excited to support growers in using emerging technologies in nursery production, including AI-driven plant monitoring, smart irrigation systems, and automation in plant transportation. 

“A lot of these technologies and production methods exist, but many growers might not be aware of them,” he said. “Our job at the AREC is to bridge that knowledge gap.”

Beyond research, Criscione is committed to industry outreach and devotes half of his time to sharing knowledge through Virginia Cooperative Extension. He has begun visiting Virginia nurseries and plans to host educational workshops at the AREC. He also is eager to mentor graduate students and emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning, noting: “You’ll always be a student in this field, there’s always more to discover.”

The origins of a botanist

Criscione has always been captivated by plants. 

His passion for the field was sparked when he heard the word “botanist” for the first time while watching the movie “The Martian” with his father. Inspired by the idea that someone could study plants for a living, he took a job at his local greenhouse and nursery, which led him to pursue his education and career in the industry.

Criscione’s academic journey took him from studying botany in Spain to pursuing his Ph.D. at Louisiana State University. His research focused on how container plant roots interact with potting soil, an often-overlooked aspect of nursery and greenhouse crops. 

“We pay more attention to how leaves grow, how many flowers develop, the color of the flowers, perhaps the shape of the plant,” Criscione said. “But this hidden half gets neglected. My Ph.D. really dove deep into understanding how our roots develop.”

His research on stratified substrates, layering different soil textures to optimize plant growth, 

challenges this oversight. By demonstrating how substrate layering benefits root growth and function, his study also revealed the potential to reduce peat moss usage by 50 percent while decreasing water and fertilizer use.

His research interests highlight the need for a holistic approach to nursery production that considers how these different production factors interact. 

“Instead of just focusing on one management practice, I want to view container production as a system,” he explains. Criscione ultimately seeks methods of effectively stimulating root systems, enabling them to fill the entire container in shorter production times.

Criscione was drawn to Hampton Roads AREC by its numerous research programs, distinguished by their specialties, but interconnected by their impacts and goals. 

“For the last few years, it was just my professor and me conducting research,” he said. “Now, I’m surrounded by a team of experts working on various projects -- it’s incredibly refreshing.”

Criscione encourages nursery growers to contact him if they have any challenges or interests in exploring production ideas more deeply. He is currently making his way across Virginia to meet with key nursery producers.